Possible panther sightings put Mantua on alert

Jen Steer, newsnet5.com

3:11 PM, Jul 13, 2012

5:04 PM, Jul 13, 2012

A twin baby panther clings to a tree while being presented to the media with its sibling at Tierpark Berlin zoo on July 13, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. The two panthers were born in captivity on April 26.

(Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Copyright Getty Images

MANTUA, Ohio - Authorities in Portage County are warning residents to keep a watchful eye on livestock after several people reported seeing a panther in Mantua.

The Portage County Sheriff's Office said there have been about five sightings of a large black cat near the area of Frost and Diagonal roads. The sheriff's office can not confirm that the animal is a panther because they have not seen any photos of it.

Deputies set up trail cameras in the area, but they have photos of everything except the mystery cat in question. According to the sheriff's office, they believe the animal was a pet that someone released.

The Portage County Sheriff's Office is working with director of outreach for animals.org Tim Harrison.

Harrison said people shouldn't panic if they see a large predator and don't run because it triggers the animal's instinct to chase. If the animal is a pet, it won't be scared of human, but it also won't want to go back into a cage, according to Harrison.

A viewer told NewsChannel5 that calves and a donkey were attacked at a farm at Frost and Diagonal. Sheriff's deputies wouldn't say if that was true, but added that an animal was injured at the intersection and a large black cat was spotted soon after.

Anyone with downed livestock in Mantua and Shalersville should contact law enforcement, deputies said. Harrison said residents should report possible sightings and take a photo, if possible.